Photography Forum | How can the sun be in two places at the same time?

I've had rejects for same reason when camera was pointing north! To be honest, I dont think some backlight is all bad is it?

Can you post the pics here ?

I'd love to upsmd11, but they're still in the screening queue awaiting my response and there doesn't seem to be any way of including them as part of a Forum post, i.e. they haven't been added to the P-M photo gallery, but nor have they been formally 'rejected'.

You and me both!

If they're in the queue why did you say they got rejected for backlit??

Because they've been rejected and are now categorised as "Awaiting Your (aka my) Response". That's how the new upload system works!!

Ahh, thanks for enlightening me Baltimore. I've yet to look at the new upload system.

Awaiting my response shots can still be posted here, just post the URL to the photo.
This can be found in the rejection e-mail next to the "View online:" line. If you paste that URL into the "Include a picture hosted on another site" icon at the top of the forum post then the picture itself with show in the forum post. Just post the URL though and people will still be able to click to see the images.

Thanks Dan, much appreciated. I'll give it a go.

This is the shot that was taken looking due East, i.e. with the setting sun almost directly behind me.

No comments? Says it all doesn't it. Not backlit (IMHO) plane heading for the sun (I wish I was!)

It seems that screeners in general (not just those on P-M) have a fixation with the sun and fail to understand that not all shadows are caused as a result of the subject being backlit. I agree that, where the sun is so bright that you can barely see the subject, the shot should be rejected out of hand, but, by the same token, I do think that a bit more flexibility needs to be applied when the subject is well defined and all of the detail is still perfectly visible.

Hiya,
In your case, the sun is to your right hand side somewhere. In this image we see an overexposed nose of the aircraft and left the rest of the plane, with a dark, dull lifeless look. For that reason I would say a "Backlit" rejection is justified.

What you might find happens as the aircraft to be infront of you, the sun may illuminate aircraft better.

Hope that helps.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan. I agree that the sun can be useful when it comes to illuminating a subject. However, at the same time, I do just wonder if there isn't a case for screeners being seen to exercise their discretion a bit more when it comes to shots where the sun is obviously located BEHIND the photographer - as in this particular case? That said, I am happy to accept their decision on this occasion and won't be re-submitting the photo in question.

Its a bit of a shame really that a photo can't be considered to be unsatisfactory due to an opinion as to where the postion of the sun is or its out of level by a money spiders winkle left or right or it needs to be photoshopped to death. I can accept advice and do so with appreciation but I think its all shifted too far towards technical issues and for that reason, I no longer submit anything thats likely to be controversial. "Who cares" You may say but I photograph aircraft for my pleasure and interest and if I am happy with the shot it stays - if I am not it gets booted, I dont need an anonymous screener to determine the quality or otherwise of my photo's.

Sorry, it looks to me like the sun is between you and the aircraft, not behind you or the aircraft. Resulting in the backlit look.

Baltimore, Brain, you should always enjoy your photography and to upload to these sites should be a further enjoyment. Take photos for yourself and if they are to the standards demanded by these sites, thats a bonus.

Some images will have technical issues that will render them unacceptable from the moment the shutter button is pressed, if that happens such as in these backlit cases It's easier to move on.

Don't get wound up about it, and remember at that time at that spot you get backlit rejections, dont go there again at that time!

Hope that helps.
Ryan

I promise (hand on heart!) that the sun was behind me when I took the 'offending' shot.

In raising the issue of 'backlighting' (if, indeed, there is such a word?!), I was merely seeking to clarify my understanding of the said issue. I was always taught that, if you take a photo facing away from the sun, then it cannot be 'backlit'. Obviously that is not the case and I will henceforth do my best to avoid falling into the same trap again. As you rightly suggest, photography is a hobby to be enjoyed and it is only by making mistakes that one (eventually!) learns to improve.

Indeed so!!

The photo is backlit, end of.

'Backlit' is probably the most simple rejection reason to explain so I don't see why you are failing to see the sun is NOT illuminating the side of the aircraft you photographed, meaning its backlit

Thanks for that Sam. Your 'constructive' criticism is, as always, gratefully received! Strictly speaking, for a photo to be backlit, the sun needs to be behind the subject - which it wasn't on this occasion. However, I think enough hairs have already been split in this particular regard, so I don't intend labouring the point any further.

Thats where I have been going wrong then! I thought that backlit meant the back of the subject was lit! as in 'back lit' i.e sun facing the camera now I realise it means anywhere on the subject except the part that the camera is facing - I am not confused though, makes perfect sense - do I write 'end of' at this point?

I have it on good authority that backlit photos can be "easily fixed" using the Photoshop Shadow/Highlight Tool. However, as I don't have access to Photoshop, that piece of information is about as much use to me as a fart in a force 10 gale!

I'm all for helping photographers and I appreciate it when people help me with my questions and queries, but when a photo is backlit there's nothing that can be done, its just simply backlit... The sun isn't "lighting up" the side of the aircraft in the picture, simple as that really

Irrespective of whether it's backlit or not I would have rejected it for being over-sharpened...and to be honest it seems quite grainy too. (IMHO)

Serious question - can a subject still be backlit if the sun isn't shining?

Well spotted that man - yes it is over-sharpened. As for being quite grainy too, we're all entitled to our own 'humble' opinion and I respect yours in the same way that I do everyone else's.

Baltimore,
A photo can still be backlit if the sun is not shining, it often happens in cloud, where a photographer stands in a backlit location it will still blow out the sky. But it can potentially be hidden if the cloud is thick enough.

As for Shadows and Highlights its useful for photos with excess contrast, where its just a touch out, that's it. NO amount of editing will save a backlit photo. Sorry.

Don't try to save them, because it wont happen.

Also Shadows and Highlights, if used to excess will decrease your contrast and leave you with a wishy, washy looking photo.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan. I do try to avoid getting into a position where the subject is backlit (honest!) and, if I get it badly wrong, I don't bother saving the pic. Post editing continues to be something a mystery from my point of view and my 'hit and miss' approach doesn't always produce the best results!

No hard feelings, but I guarantee that, if I'd uploaded this shot (a 'Screeners' Choice', no less!) it would have been rejected on the grounds of being backlit!

Guarantee you it wouldn't have been... I don't know if you're accusing us (me, as I screened that shot) as biased in some way or other?

That shot is a silhouette, not a 'backlit' shot, and is clearly taken at sunrise / sunset.

Considering you stated this in the opening post but only posted one rejected shot, in which the near side of the plane was in shadow i.e. probably the reason that was rejected for backlit, I'm now locking the thread.